Loose-leaf or card-index device



. L. c. RIDGE.

LOOSE LEAF 0R CARD INDEX DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3|, I920.

Patented Feb; 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LEONARD CLAYTON RIDGE, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO,

LOOSE-LEAF 0R CARD-INDEX DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD CLAYTON RIDGE, a subject of the King of Great Brit; ain, and resident of 1406 Royal Bank Bldg'i, in the city of Toronto, county of York, in the Province of. Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf or Card Index Devices, of which the following is a specification. v

The invention relates to improvements in loose leaf or card index devices, as described ,in the present specification and shown in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention is adapted particularly for use in connection with the type of loose leaf or card index device which comprises a cabinet having an index plate fixed to the outer face .of one side or end, a plurality of cards adapted to be contained within the cabinet and provided with characters corresponding to the characters on said index plate, and an operating device movable in respect to the cabinet and constituting a selector for se regating all cards corresponding to a particular index character, regardless of their location within the cabinet, and the invention consists essentially of the novel features of construction whereby each card is provided with an individual container having a portion thereof extending downwardly past the lower edge of the card and shaped to securely accommodate tabs adapted to be placed in proper relation to the desired index character for engagement by said selector.

The obj ectsof the invention are to provide means. whereby the tabs will be free of engagement with the index cards, to insure the tabs remaining in their proper positions in relation to the index characters, and to eliminate the necessity of having to reinforce the index cards, thus their being inserted in typewrlting machines and generally to provide a loose leaf-or card index device which will be inexpensive of construction, durable and eflicient.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an index card in its container and a tab in position thereon. v

Figure 3 is a detail of a card container.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of a portion ermitting of Specification of Letters l atent. Patented F b. 14 1922 Application filed March- 31, 1920. Serial No, 370,292.

of a card and container and showing modified forms of tabs thereon.

Fi re 5 is a sectional view taken on the hue A of Figure 4.-

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the 7 line.

Like numerals of reference indicate correspondlng parts in the various fi ures.

Referring to the drawings 1 is the cabinet adapted to support the index cards and the selector mechanism and being provided on .along its lower edge with ruled spaces 12 bearing index characters corresponding to the characters on the plate 2.

6 is a metal back or container with which each of the cards 5 is provided, said container preferably being constructed of comparatively thin metal and being provided with end flaps 7 adapted to be folded backwardly forming retainers for said cards.

The container 6 is considerably deeper than the index card and is provided with a longitudinal crimp 8, forming a ledge upon which the index card is adapted to rest, and at its extreme; lower edge is turned outwardly even with said crimp 8 as at 9.

The portion 9 and the space between the v crimps 8 and 9 are provided with crimps or bends 10 and 11 respectively, said crimps being of substantially inverted V shape in cross section .and having their respective apices in a direct line with the centres of the corresponding spaces 12 in which are contained the index characters.

The containers 6 may be provided with finger openings 13 therethrough to facilitate the removal of the cards.

14 is a tab or clip adapted to be placed in predetermined positions on the crimped portion of the container to correspond with the position of a character on the index card, said tab being formed in two sections, the front section being crimped longitudinally to conform to the crimped portion of the container and being of sufiicient length to provide at one end an indicator 15 adapted to project onto the index card and at its other end projecting outwardly in a reduced portion 16 notched as at 17 to accommodate the selector mechanism, and a rear section 18 pivoted to said front section and shaped to substantially conform to the rear side of the container. The body portion of the tab is preferably of suflicient width to completely cover one of the crimps and terminate at the apex of the adjoining crimps so that said tab will be securely held against lateral displacement.

In Figure 4 modified forms of tabs are shown in which the projecting portions adapted for engagemnt by the selector mechanism are so positioned as to provide for the raising of the cards indexed under one or more of the characters adjoining the charac ter indicated by the indicator 15.

19 indicates a tab having projections 20 therefrom adapted to bridge the space directly below the indicator, said tab being for use where it is desired to raise the cards indexed under alternate characters.

22 is a tab having an enlarged projection 23. notched to correspond to the character to which the indicator points and to an adja cent character.

24: is a tab similar to the tab 22 except that the projection 25 is oppositely positioned to the projection 23 from said tab 22, said tabs 22 and 24 being for use when it is desired to raise the cards corresponding to adjacent characters.

In the use of the invention it is simply necessary to place one or more of the tabs in position on the crimped portion of the container below the character or characters under which it is desired to index same and upon the operation of the selector mecha nism said card will be brought into prominence.

What I claim is 1. In a loose leaf or card index device, the combination with a cabinet provided with an index plate and selector mechanism operable in relation thereto and an index card pro- .vided with characters corresponding to the characters on said plate, of a container adapted to support said card, said container belng provided wlth means adapted to support one or more index tabs in relation to one or more predetermined characters on said card for engagement by said selector mechanism.

2. In a loose leaf or card index device, the combination with'a cabinet provided with an index plate and selector mechanism operable in'relation thereto and an index card provided with characters corresponding to the characters on said plate, of a container constituting a back for said card, said c ontainer being adapted to. support one or more index tabs in predetermined relation to the index characters on said card and free of engagement with said card.

3. In a loose leaf or card index device, the

combination with a cabinet provided with an index plate and selector mechanism operable in relation thereto and an index card provided with characters corresponding to the characters on said plate, of a container adapted to form a backing for said card, said backing being provided with crimps located in predetermined relation to the index characters on said card, an index tab shaped for. interlocking engagement with one or other of said crimps and having a notched projection adapted for engagement by said selector mechanism. 1

4. In a loose leaf or card index device, a card retainer comprising a metal plate having its end edges turned backwardly forming card retaining flaps, said plate being crimped longitudinally to form a supporting ledge for a card and below said longitudinal crimp being provided with a longitudinally arranged series of crimps, positioned at right angles to said longitudinal crimps and forming supports for index tabs.

5. In a loose leaf or card index device, a card retainer comprising a metal plate having its end edges turned backwardly forming card retaining flaps, said plate being crimped longitudinally to form a supporting ledge for a card and below said longitudinal crimp being provided with a longitudina lly arranged series (if crimps positioned at right angles to said longitudinal crimp and a tab comprising front and rear sections adapted to interlock with the ,crimped portion of said back, the front section of said tab being adapted to project outwardly from said back and being slotted.

6. In a loose leaf or card index device, the combination with a cabinet having an index plate, an index card having index spaces thereon and selector mechanism, of a card retainer comprising a metal plate having its end edges turned backwardly forming card retaining flaps, said plate being greater in width than said card and being provided with spaced longitudinal crimps, the inner of which forms a support for said card, the space between said longitudinal crimps being provided with transverse crimps having their apices coinciding with the centres of the index spaces of said card and a tab adapted for engagement with the crimped portion of said card retainer and having a slotted projection for engagement by said retainlng flaps, said plate being greater in width than said card and being provided with spaced longitudinal crimps the inner of which forms a support'for said card, the space between said longitudinai crimps being provided with transverse crlmps having their apices coinciding with the centres of the index spaces of said card, a tab comprising a front section shaped to fit the crimped portion of said retainer and projecting outwardly in a slotted portion adapted for engagement by the selector mechanism, a rear section pivoted to' said front section and 1 with said front section forming jaws adapted to; interlock with said retainer, the body of said tab being of sufficient width to cover one complete transverse crimp and terminating at the apices of the adjoining crimps. 15

Signed at the city of Toronto day of January, 1920.

L. CLAYTON RIDGE.

this 26th Witnesses:

G. MURPHY, -C. A. RICHARDSON. 

